"I thought the author did a wonderful job with the descriptive imagery, great dialogues and overall such a strong and positive message. I really enjoyed it, and I was sorry it was over so soon. This story caught my attention right away and held it throughout. Great work!" ~ Elise Nilsen

Menu

Already at the Other Side

Is there something in your life that just seems to bog you down and keep you stuck in the same situation over and over again? Is there something that you just can’t seem to get past and causes your patience to grow weary? Does the disappointment remain heavy on your heart and some days you may even feel like giving up?

Ari’s day dawned dreary with fog settling in the upper branches of the trees. If only I werealready at the other side, thought Ari. He was beginning to get impatient with his progress through the foreboding forest. Many times we find ourselves waking up to a so-called dreary day and impatient with how slow our progress is coming. The fog seems to settle in around us, too.

If only we could get to the other side of this, or just skip it all together, wouldn’t that be nice? But life doesn’t generally work out this way. These are the times when we must decide to take action and just keep going no matter what the circumstances may bring us. Ari began to follow the stream as Eliezer had instructed him. He chose not to give up, but to just keep going and we can do the same.

When we yield to faith and patience a calmness begins to well up inside of us. It brings with it a knowing that we are truly already at the other side. We begin to trust that all things are working out for our highest good and we will make it through, we will get there, we are actually already there by faith. Patience is also a form of action. Ari began….to follow the stream; he took that next step on his path toward home.

As you take your next step, your mood changes, you begin to have a song come into your heart as Ari did. And, as you sing along the way you find yourself getting closer and closer to the end of the dreary forest. Suddenly, the clearing is just up ahead and you break through.

You may even find a pleasant surprise waiting for you as Ari did. Even during this discouraging time, in the dark forest, Shirarina showed up on the scene lifting his spirits when they were so low, and becoming a precious comrade on his journey.

As Ari allowed the trying of his faith to work patience, he received patience’s perfect work and he became perfect, wanting nothing. He was already at the other side in his heart by faith.

“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” ~ James 1:3-4